From NYT bestselling author Carrie Ann Ryan, continues a brand new series where second chances don’t come often, and overcoming an unexpected loss means breaking everything you knew.Harmony Wynham has been many things in her life: daughter, friend, student, lover, wife…and now, widow. Getting past those labels and finding who she could be without them was the hardest thing she’s ever done.Then … done.
Then she became friends with Brendon.
Every time she looks at him, she sees a past, she sees a present, and she’s afraid if she looks too hard, she’ll see a future.
Brendon Connolly has known Harmony since before she got married. Before she lost everything. He didn’t know that one day she wouldn’t be just his friend but the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
Only he don’t think that can happen.
Not when every time she looks at him, she sees what she lost, and he can only see what he can’t overcome.
He loves her, even though he shouldn’t. Somehow, they need to find a balance.
Because if they don’t, walking away will be the hardest thing she’s ever done—even if it’s the only thing he should do.
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I’m a big fan of Carrie Ann Ryan’s contemporary romances, mostly because they’re full of emotion and relatable characters. Her newest series, Fractured Connections, is all about what happens after. Harmony and Brendon are good friends who share several devastating losses (a mutual friend’s suicide as well as the very unexpected death of Moyer, who was Harmony’s husband and Brendon’s business partner), and through those losses, find their relationship changing.
I was actually relieved to find that “Shouldn’t Have You” wasn’t nearly as emotionally jarring as the first book in the series. Harmony’s grief felt very real, but it wasn’t overwhelming. In a way, “Shouldn’t Have You” almost read as women’s fiction with Harmony’s examination and ultimate rejection of all the labels she’s been assigned, not coincidentally attributes that define her in terms of other people – daughter, friend, wife, and later widow – and embracing herself, defining herself. I very much enjoyed this aspect of the book.
Brendon was harder for me. I didn’t really feel a connection with him and usually, I identify with the male characters a lot more than I do the female characters. His tragic childhood seemed almost rote. Not to say that he wasn’t sympathetic or likeable, because he definitely was. I just didn’t feel like I got a lot of insight into what made him tick.
And I guess that is why I kind of wrestled with this book. I don’t know if it’s the first person dual point of view (which I’m not crazy about) or the fact that the characters are younger, but in general, I did not feel the connection with Harmony or Brendon the way I have with Carrie Ann Ryan’s other characters. The first person POV, instead of pulling me into Harmony and Brendon, I found kind of isolating and “talky,” though much less with her than him.
Overall, though, I enjoyed “Shouldn’t Have You,” and would definitely recommend it for fans of slow burn, second chance novels.
Harmony Wynham’s life turned upside down when her husband, Moyer, was killed in a freak accident.
Now two years later she is ready to try and start dating again, knowing Moyer would not want her to be spending the rest of her life alone. Yet she is surprised at how difficult it is to meet the right guy when her first few dates don’t go as she thought they would.
Brendon Connolly was Moyer’s best friend and with him when he died. He spends his days buying and selling businesses and at night he helps out bartending at the family’s pub. Brendon still has nightmares about Moyer’s death and is also struggling with his feelings for Harmony.
Will Brendon have the courage to let Harmony know how he feels before she goes on a date with the one who will fix her broken heart?
I felt so bad for Harmony with losing Moyer and it would be so hard to try and move on but I gave her credit for trying to find love again and putting herself out there. When I read about her dates it reminded me of why I have no desire to date again!
Brendon was a great character who worked hard at making something of himself after going through a lot growing up and then with losing Moyer. He was a strong character but at the same time you could see that he had emotional scars from the past that he was dealing with and had to overcome.
I really liked that Brendon and Harmony had a past that intersected and they both valued and trusted the other which made the relationship progress at a believable pace. The two had so much chemistry and you knew Moyer would be super happy with the two of them!
These two made a great couple and I was glad they overcame everything to find each other! By Rebecca
Shouldn’t Have You will tear you apart. You feel the struggles Harmony endures as a widow and Brendon is right there with her for the daily guilt he goes through from that tragic day. These two were friends before Harmony fell in love and married Moyer. Brendon and Moyer were best friends and business partners. But life changes Harmony and Brendon and they’ll start to realize their lives could be better together if they are willing to fight for it. Great story and I loved these characters. I am ready for more from this series.
Shouldn’t Have You is the Harmony and Brendon’s story. Harmony lost her husband two years ago and the three of them were all friends..Brendon was with Moyer when the accident happened. They remain in each other’s lives but you can see feelings simmering beneath the surface. Harmony realizes she needs to start living again and begins dating much to Brendon’s dismay. Brendon however doesn’t feel like he’s good enough for Harmony based on his past before he was adopted. This story is heart wrenchingly beautiful and the way Harmony and Brendon find their own paths back to living and loving and then find each other was wonderful! Another great book in this series!
This was a very heartfelt friends to lover read. The way the author had the connection with Brendon and Harmony was really beautiful. When it comes to Harmony, we see her navigate a new normal and my heart broke for her. Being married I can’t even imagine going through what she did and being as strong as she is. I loved Brendon. Seeing him evolve as a character was something that really hooked me to this story. I loved the slow burn aspect of the story. It was a beautiful story about accepting love and overcoming your past.
I’m going to talk vaguely about a seen towards the end of the book. This scene was so beautiful and a pivotal moment with these two characters. It was beautiful seeing them open their selves and Harmony accepting her feelings. Brendon fighting his inner self. Fighting against what he believes…. final chapters. I’ll admit that I went back and read it 3 different times because it encompasses the feeling that I wanted to feel while reading the whole book. The goosebumps, the tears, the happiness. It was just a very beautiful scene to me.
I don’t really want to give too much of the story away so I’ll leave it short and simple. I will say that the reason that I didn’t give it 5 stars is because at times I didn’t feel the depth of emotions that I could’ve fell at certain times. If that makes sense. Like all the elements were there, but the way it was written, it didn’t spark those emotions. I look forward to reading the next book in this series and even going back and reading the first one that I haven’t. 4 stars #2OCCJD
SHOULDN’T HAVE YOU is the second book in the Fractured Connection series. If you like a slow burn between friends that over think every move they make, then you will love Brendon and Harmony’s story. This was are a hard story for Carrie Ann to write but I think she did an amazing job showing that there is love after losing someone and life after a tragic past.
I love Carrie Ann Ryan and the Fractured Connections series! Brendon and Harmony were good friends growing up with Brendon becoming a good friend to Harmony’s husband. Harmony and Brendon drifted apart after her husband died but find themselves thrown together when tragedy strikes close to home. Brendon and Harmony realize they may have more feelings for each other than friendship. Harmony is giving dating a try again but finds that she ends up discussing her dates with Brendon. Brendon realizes he is jealous of those other men dating Harmony. Will Harmony and Brendon confess their feelings to each other? Will someone from Brendon’s past cause problems for Brendon and Harmony before their new relationship even starts? Can Harmony be there for Brendon like he has always been there for her? I chemistry and passion between Brendon and Harmony is HOT! Love the banter between the Connolly brothers and their friends. Shouldn’t Have You is another massive hit for Carrie Ann Ryan. Shouldn’t Have You is an amazing book with great characters that will have the reader laughing out loud one minute and wanting to cry the next with the emotions that Carrie Ann Ryan can invoke in her readers. Carrie Ann Ryan is a MUST read author for this reader. I would highly recommend getting Shouldn’t Have You. I received an ARC of this book, and I am leaving my honest review.
I enjoyed this book. It’s an emotional rollercoaster of love, faith and grief. Relationships between the characters are real and poignant. A very well written story. I received an advanced copy of this book and freely leave this honest review.
Shouldn’t Have You is the second installment of the Fractured Connections series. It is an unbelievable addition to the series. I found myself being able to relate to both characters. Ryan does an excellent job giving insight into the characters’ feelings. I have loved every book that CAR has written but this one is my favorite by far. If this is just the second installment, I cannot wait for the other additions.
Every time Ms. Ryan does another branch of the Montgomery world I wonder how the series will turn out, will it be just as good as the others, or will it feel like something I’ve read before, I go through this every time she announces another spin-off. Even after all the spin-offs I still wonder but I have no idea why because she has never let me down before and this series is yet another hit for her, only 2 books in and I’m already sad that it will end. So I vow that I won’t question anymore whether a new spin-off will be just as good as the others because I already know it will. Book two in this series was just Whoa I have no words for the emotions that this book put me through I was sadden when I read the final page. Brendon and Harmony were amazing together, while I liked book 1 this has just stolen the spot for my favorite book in the series. I cannot wait for the next book.
Just lovely! Such a beautiful story! Harmony and Brandon are perfect together and so is their story. I was expecting all the feels with this one and that is what I got. As usual Carrie Ann delivered a wonderful story with delightful characters and I cannot wait to see what develops in the next one.
Shouldn’t Have You is the second book in the Fractured Connections series. This was a friends to lovers story. This book was so good. This series is so well written and pulls at the heartstrings.
Harmony is a widow who is trying to dip her feet back into the dating pool. While Brendon has always been her friend, things start to become deeper and more.
This is a story about learning to love again after a tragedy and how there can still be a happily ever after. I loved both Harmony and Brendon and this book put me through the ringer, in a good way.
I can’t wait to see what comes next in this series. I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this story. It does a little more of a somber quality as it deals with some heavy subjects but throughout there is the hope and the moving on. Harmony lost her husband 2 years ago and her group of friends just lost one of their own. They are all reeling and trying to find their new normal. This is the second book in the series and while it can be read as a standalone there are connections to the first. This is series is about the three friends that are left after losing their fourth. They are all super close. We get more of the friends death in the first book and this one focuses more on Harmony’s loss of her husband and moving on from that. Brendon is one of the Connelly brothers, which are close to the female group of friends. The two groups had drifted apart but the death of their friend brought everyone back together.
This book is really well written. We really get to know the characters which I love. This book is on the darker side. It’s not a light story but it is something that people can relate whether they have lost a spouse or not. We usually know someone that has and this gives an inside look to that. Brendon struggles with his past and the idiosyncrasies that he has because of it. This story flows really well and while it deals with grief and loss it always has the tinge of hope and moving on, living life. This series is different than other books that Carrie Ann Ryan has written but like all previous books, love conquers all and she definitely writes a fantastic story where you connect with the characters. I absolutely adored this story and am looking forward to getting the next book and hopefully more than just one.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
I loved Brendan and Harmony!! They have been friends since they were young. Harmony was married to a friend of Brendan’s but is now a widow. Brendan and Harmony were always friends and there were never any other feelings, but now? What a beautiful story of love after loss where you least expect it. Great supporting characters of friends and family that help them navigate this new life. I don’t want to spoil the story so that’s all I’m going to say except you won’t be disappointed, this is a fantastic read!
Received an advance copy from the author through Bookfunnel.
Brendan and Harmony’s story was very heartfelt and emotional. Through tragedy they found each other even though they fought it. Very happy that in the end they came together and found their HEA.
I loved Brendan and Harmony. They have known each other and been friends since they were younger. Harmony was married to Moyer who unfortunately has passed away. He was also friends with Brendan and worked with him as well. When Harmony was married, Brendan didn’t have feelings other then friendship for her. Now Harmony is a different person. After loosing someone you love it changes you. She has just started to put herself back out there and go on a a few dates. Brendan doesn’t know if he should be feeling what he is towards Harmony or if it is wrong. He doesn’t feel he is good enough for her and doesn’t want to loose her as a friend if things don’t work out. Harmony doesn’t want Brendan to think she is leaning too much on him and doesn’t know when her feelings of friendship started to change to something more. This is a slow build up romance and I loved these two every step of the way. They have great friends and family that help the two of them navigate their feelings. Fantastic read don’t miss it!
An emotional friends to lovers romance where a man falls for his best friend’s widow and a woman finds her inner strength through the darkness.
WOW, Shouldn’t Have You is a masterpiece. Enthralling and mesmerizing, this beautiful story will captivate you. Carrie Ann Ryan has me hooked. I loved this book.
Book 2 (standalone) in the Fractured Connections series from Carrie Ann Ryan is here! This is an emotional friends-to-lovers romance where a man falls for his best friend’s widow and a woman finds her inner strength through the darkness…
A beautifully heartbreaking journey filled with so may emotional twists and riveting turns. This story has it all life long friends finding that as life goes on so many things change… was a great read from beginning to end and it was a pleasure to get lost in.